Somersault figure toy



H. MULLER 2,698,498

SOMERSAULT FIGURE TOY Jan. 4, 1955 Filed March 14, 1950 by j I gyd uflivnze yi' United States Patent 0 This invention relates to holding stands for toy tumbling figures propelled by a driving mechanism.

So far, such holding devices have been made in such a way that the tumbling figure can be hung up, or fixed thereon in order to somersault in a standing or hanging position. The playing effect of such holding devices,

therefore, is rather limited. They are comparatively expensive and are, therefore, rarely in use.

The object of this invention is to provide a holding device for tumbling figures designed in such a way that,

with its help, a number of additional playing performances of the tumbling figure in question are rendered possible so that the tumbling figure may be used for a greater variety of performances.

With this and further objects in view, which will hereinafter appear, the holding device according to the present invention comprises a foot part or foot base with carrying bars or studs, to which the arms of the tumbling figure may be connected preferably by plug connections. Therefore, the tumbling fiigure cannot only somersault on a table top or the like, as known so far, but also, when being fixed on the holding device, it can somersault when standing upside down on its hands or, when being put laterally on a plane, it can roll about and then take up its normal tumbling position pulling the holding device with it.

According to another feature of the invention the base of the holding device which is advantageously in the shape of a fiat member, is combined with a holding plate, on which the holding device can be fixed, for instance by its carrying studs being put therethrough. It is of a special advantage to use for such holding plate the wall of a receptacle in the form of, say, a trunk, a case or the like, which, at the same time, may be used as a packing container. The base of the holding device is preferably fastened to the wall of the container by means of a clamp which can be installed inside the container. If the container is a drawer box its inner drawer may be used as a clamp or holdfast. If, however, a folding box is provided as a container, the holdfast clamp may be an insert, for instance, in the shape of a stirrup, or a plug member which can be inserted into the carrying bars and by which the foot part or base is fastened to the wall.

This arrangement results in giving the toy a wider range of application. If the container is placed on a table or the like in such a way that the carrying bars of the holding device project upwardly, that is to say, that the tumbling figure is above the container, the figure gives its performances on a little platform or stage. If, however, the figure fixed on the carrying bars is placed with its container on a table or the like in such a way that it tumbles or rolls off on the table-top, it will push the container, e. g. its trunk ahead or drag it behind according as which side the trunk is placed, which results in an effect that is as much surprising as it is amusing. It is particularly amusing and surprising to see the tumbling figure pushing the trunk before itself and lifting it twice with each revolution a little off the table top owing to the length of the body of the figure and in dependance of the weight of the container. Therefore, the present invention permits both a greater variety of playful performances of the tumbling figure and the additional utilization of its packing box in a playful manner.

According to another feature of the invention the carrying studs are provided with semi-cylindrical lugs for fix ing the arms of the tumbling figure. These lugs are atlit) ranged at a distance from the base of the holding device that corresponds to the length of the paws or hands of the tumbling figure. Hence the latter stands on the base of the holding device in the operative position. By this simple method, the arms of the tumbling figure, when in action, are fixed, in particular, are safeguarded against longitudinal shifting. As already mentioned, the base is advantageously a fiat member so that it can be easily accommodated between the outer drawer casing and the inner drawer of a drawer box. Preferably it is made in the shape of a frame, the carrying studs being manufactured by stamping and bending out of the inner part which is waste in the manufacture of the frame. The lugs of the carrying bars, in this case, are arranged on the outsides of the studs so that no special arrangements are necessary to ensure resting of the paws of the arms of the tumbling figure on the base, i. e. on the frame.

The holding stand is furnished with an appropriate arrangement for suspension, e. g. an eye, a notch or the like, so that the holding device may be used also without a container, that is to say, without a packing box. It can, therefore, be hung up on a nail in the wall or on a but ton of a suit so that special effects of surprise and amusement at small parties are possible.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and appear in the appended claims forming part of the application.

In the accompanying drawing a now preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front view of a holding stand having the invention applied thereto, to be placed on a table or the like. with the tumbling figure fixed thereto,

Fig. 2 is a side-view of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a top view of the holding stand,

Fig. 4 is a side view of the holding stand inserted between two holding plates,

Fig. 5 is a front view partly broken away of the stand inserted between the two parts of a drawer box,

Fig. 6 is a top-view of the box,

Fig. 7 is a side view of the tumbling figure pulling the holding device therewith,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the somersault figure pushing a container in front,

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the somersault figure dragging a container at the rear,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the figure performing its somersault movements on a container.

Similar reference numerals denote similar parts in the different views.

Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, the somersault figure 1 is provided with a driving mechanism known per se (not shown), which can be wound up and causes the tumbling figure to turn around an axis which is formed by the bent off parts 2 of the arms 3 of the tumbling figure. Attached to these arms are the hands or paws 4, which, as compared with the arms, are enlarged in width to fit the lugs 7 and may consist of a piece of felt or other material fastened on the wire of the arms 3.

The holding device consists of a fiat frame 5 and two upwardly directed carrying studs or bars 6 the upper ends of which are bent to form lugs 7 preferably having a semi-cylindrical cross-section. Into these lugs can be pushed the arms 3 of the tumbling figure, in the manner as can be seen from Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 7-10 so that the hands 4 fill the space between the lugs 7 and the frame 5. The frame 5 is the support for the hands. Therefore, the arms cannot be moved in their longitudinal direction.

If the holding device with the somersault figure is placed on a table board or the like, the figure 1 will perform its rotary movements, as it were, while standing on its hands. The holding device can, however, be hung up also on a nail in a wall, on the button of a suit or the like, by means of the notch 8, in which case the figure somersaults in mid-air, i. e., in a freely suspended position.

As shown by Fig. 4, the frame 5 of the holding device can be placed between two plates 9 and 10 in such a way that its carrying bars 6 protrude through the upper plate 10, which has appropriate openings 15 for inserting the bars 6 with their lugs 7. The two plates 9 and 10 may be the walls of a drawer box, as may be seen from Figs. 5, 6, 8, and 9. In 10 is formed by the respective wall of the outer box 11, the plate 9, on the other hand, by the appertaining wall of the inner drawer 12. Thus, the figure performs its somersaults on a podium or stage, formed by the box.

The box need not necessarily be a drawer box. Any other receptacle may serve the purpose, e. g. a folding box 13 as in Fig. 10. In this case, there is provided a special supporting and clamping part or stirrup 14 taking the position of the lower plate 9 and a plug member or holding bar 16 fixing the frame 5 on the wall of the folding box before the fastening of the arms or hands, respectively, said bar being placed through holes in the carrying bars 6 outside the wall of the folding box. Any insertion or bar 16 that can be inserted into the folding box when used as a container may be used for such a fixture or supporting device. ing in its cross section to the folding box 13 may be used for this purpose, said stirrup being inserted into the folding box after the carrying bars 6 have been placed through the respective openings of the wall of the folding box in such a way that, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 10, it keeps the frame 5 of the holding device in its operative position.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the container as already mentioned can be used not only as a base, but it is also possible to place the container with the somersault figure on a table board or the like in such a way that the figure, as in Fig. 8, pushes the container ahead or, as in Fig. 9, drags or pulls it along. In any case, it is advisable to give the container the appearance of a trunk, of a circus or variety box, or the like, thus giving the impression that the somersault figure always drags its luggage or house along with it.

It is of special advantage to provide a container which serves simultaneously as a packing box for the somersault this case, the upper plate figure and the holding device and, if desired, for the supporting or fixture device. This would render special packing means unnecessary.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a preferred example and embodiment of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A toy somersault figure comprising a body portion, a spring motor mounted in the body, an axle supported by said body, said axle being driven by said spring motor and having bent 01f parts forming the arms of the figure, hand imitations provided at the ends of said arms and being enlarged in width compared with the said arms and a holding device consisting of a base and upwardly directed carrying means provided at the upper ends with semi-cylindrical lugs arranged so as to allow the parts of the arms above the hands to be pushed-in so that the The stirrup 14 correspondends of the hands substantially abut against the said base thereby preventing the arms from axial movements.

2. A toy somersault figure as claimed in claim 1, said base consisting of a flat sheet and said carrying means and lugs being integral with said base and bent over from the material inside the base.

3. A toy somersault figure comprising a body portion, a spring motor mounted in said body portion, an axle supported in and by said body portion driven by said spring motor and having bent portions forming the arms of said figure each with a free end, enlarged parts on each free end of said arms, a flat frame, lugs to hold the enlarged ends of said arms, carrying bars connecting said lugs to the frame, a case with openings through which said lugs and bars project from the inside of the case, and means for holding said frame in position in inside position in the case.

4. A toy somersault figure comprising a body portion, a spring motor mounted in said body portion, an axle supported in and by said body portion, said axle being driven by said spring motor and having bent parts forming the arms of said figure each with a free end, enlarged parts on each free end of said arms, a flat frame, lugs to hold the enlarged ends of said arms, carrying bars connecting said lugs to the frame, a packing box for said figure having openings through which said lugs and bars project from the inside of said box to the outside, and means for holding said frame inside the case.

5. A toy somersault figure comprising a body portion, a spring motor mounted in said body portion, an axle supported in and by said body portion, said axle being driven by said spring motor and having bent parts forming the arms of said figure each with a free end, enlarged parts on each free end of said arms, a fiat frame, lugs to hold the enlarged ends of said arms, carrying bars connecting said lugs to the frame, a packing box for said figure having openings through which said lugs and bars project from the inside of said box to the outside, and a drawer for said box holding said frame inside the case.

6. A toy somersault figure comprising a body portion, a spring motor mounted in said body portion, an axle supported in and by said body portion, said axle being driven by said spring motor and having bent parts forming the arms of said figure each with a free end, enlarged parts on each free end of said arms, a fiat frame, lugs to hold the enlarged ends of said arms, carrying bars connecting said lugs to the frame and having holes therein, a case with openings through which said lugs and bars project from the inside of said case to the outside, and a plug member projecting into holes in said carrying bars for holding said frame in position in inside position in the case.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,447,598 Muller Mar. 6, 1923 1,690,811 Bartley Nov. 6, 1928 1,719,590 Cherry July 2, 1929 2,021,588 Baker Nov. 19, 1935 

